A Chesapeake man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Suffolk Circuit Court to 50 counts of producing child pornography and four counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

James Edward Haidle, 39, was charged with more than 200 counts of producing child pornography when he was arrested in May.

Last summer, Haidle, who was living in Suffolk at the time, snapped dozens of photographs of two 16-year-old girls in sexually-explicit positions, according to past court testimony.

He also sexually abused the girls, telling them the experience was part of a religious initiation.

Haidle could receive up to five years in prison for each of the 54 charges, said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Marie Walls. He will be sentenced on Nov. 28.

Haidle is also due to be sentenced on several unrelated sexual misconduct charged involving children in Chesapeake in October, Walls said.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com